The optics at the Tanjian Summit worked, at least for India within days of hyped media attention. The meeting was turned into a gala, with cameras and commentators speaking for hours on the photo opportunities that were clearly planned and provided to them by the leaders - in particular Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At all times China’s Xi Jinping seems to be not as enthusiastic a participant, but went along, given his visibly close relationship with Putin where the smiles were genuine, and certainly not faked.
US President Donald Trump whose foreign policy is dictated by the social media – or seems to be— responded to the media hype about India moving into the China-Russia embrace with olive leaves, if not a full branch yet. In response to a media query at the White House he declared, ““I always will. I’ll always be friends with (PM) Modi. He’s a great Prime Minister. I’ll always be friends, but I just don’t like what he is doing at this particular moment. But India and the United States have a very special relationship. There is nothing to worry about. We just have moments on occasion.”
And he even stepped back from his earlier social media post where he had posted a photograph of Modi-Putin-Xi at the SCO summit with the comment, “"Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest, China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!" In response to a question he said,
“I don’t think we have. I’ve been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil from Russia. I let them know that. We put a very big tariff on India – 50 per cent, a very high tariff. I get along very well with (PM) Modi, as you know. He was here a couple of months ago; in fact, we went to the Rose Garden and had a press conference.”
PM Modi responded with alacrity, not letting ‘moments’ pass in reaching out. “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership,” he posted on X. And as action it was made known that the Indian Prime Minister would not be attending the virtual BRICS meeting. Earlier this was touted as a certainty by the media pliable to briefings and handouts, along with the participation of Presidents Xi and Putin who of course, will still attend.
President Trump has had a major issue with BRICS, and singled out the member nations for special tariffs and intimidation. He has tried to do business with President Putin, recognized President Xi as a worthy opponent, dismissed South Africa and imposed 50 per cent tariffs on both Brazil and India – the highest till date. In recent remarks he has spoken in favour of the people of Brazil while attacking the leadership. And in a quick shift after the SCO has opened the door again to India.
It might be recalled that India has not burnt any bridges with the US, and even while travelling to China for the SCO summit PM Modi stopped at Japan despite the strained relations between Tokyo and Beijing. And while at the summit, he relied more on optics than substance, to get his ‘we can move away if you do not respond’ kind of message across to Washington. Trump’s response has been met with warmth and a decision not to carry the optics into the BRICS meet that will be attended by Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar.
Bilateral relations with the US have thus been, as a former diplomat said, on pause. Or as President Trump declared just a “moment”. The criticism by several former American diplomats and commentators for ‘losing’ India to China and Russia, has contributed to the pull back. PM Modi might now review his decision not to participate in the United Nations General Assembly, dependent on an invitation from the American President for an exclusive bilateral meeting. With or without a meal. A rapprochement is now on the cards.